Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) 2020 Greenland ... · accompanied by Betula pubescens and single specimens of Sorbus groenlandica . In West Greenland between 61ºN and 66ºN

Report

Greenland

Rome, 2020

FRA 2020 report, Greenland

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FAO has been monitoring the world's forests at 5 to 10 year intervals since 1946. The Global Forest Resources Assessments (FRA) are now produced every five years in an attempt to provide a consistent approach todescribing the world's forests and how they are changing. The FRA is a country-driven process and the assessments are based on reports prepared by officially nominated National Correspondents. If a report is notavailable, the FRA Secretariat prepares a desk study using earlier reports, existing information and/or remote sensing based analysis.

This document was generated automatically using the report made available as a contribution to the FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020, and submitted to FAO as an official government document. Thecontent and the views expressed in this report are the responsibility of the entity submitting the report to FAO. FAO cannot be held responsible for any use made of the information contained in this document.


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

1. Forest extent, characteristics and changes

2. Forest growing stock, biomass and carbon

3. Forest designation and management

4. Forest ownership and management rights

5. Forest disturbances

6. Forest policy and legislation

7. Employment, education and NWFP

8. Sustainable Development Goal 15


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IntroductionReport preparation and contact personsThe present report was prepared by the following person(s)

Name Role Email Tables

Introductory textPlace an introductory text on the content of this report

Thomas National correspondent [email protected] All


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1 Forest extent, characteristics and changes1a Extent of forest and other wooded landNational Data

Data sources + type of data source eg NFI, etcNo official inventory is carried out for Greenland. The estimates are based on expert knowledge, provided on the IGN homepage: https://ign.ku.dk/om/arboreter/arboret-groenland/skovplantninger/

National classification and definitionsNo national classification different from the definitions in FRA2020 exists.

Original dataAs no formal inventory exists for Greenland, the knowledge of local experts forms the basis for assessing the extent of forest and OWL.

Analysis and processing of national data

Estimation and forecastingNo estimation was carried out and no change was assumed from 2015 to 2020.

Reclassification into FRA 2020 categoriesNo reclassification was performed.

https://ign.ku.dk/om/arboreter/arboret-groenland/skovplantninger/


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Forest Other wooded land1000 ha

0

2

4

6

1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020


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CommentsIn the interior Greenland between 60º10’N and 61º20’N minor areas in the bottom of climatically protected valleys are covered by a natural forest of Betula pubescens with a low copse-like underforest of Salix glauca . Occasional it is mixed withSorbus groenlandica . The tallest birch trees reach just above 10 metres in the interior behind Nanortalik (60º17’N). Further north they do not exceed 7 metres. The total forest area reaching above 5 metres is below 200 ha. Furthermore, a few smallplantations with conifers have been established at the fiords Tasermiut and Tunulliarfik in South Greenland. The most successful species are Larix siberica, Pinus contorta, P. silvestris, and Picea sp. The tallest trees reach about 7 metres, and seemto be resistant to the harsh winter climate. The total area is less than 20 ha.

There are larger areas which fulfill the criteria for being Other wooded land. It is areas with dense copse vegetation of 0.5-4 metres height. By far the most common species in the copse is Salix glauca , in the southernmost part of the country oftenaccompanied by Betula pubescens and single specimens of Sorbus groenlandica . In West Greenland between 61ºN and 66ºN Alnuscrispa is the only accompanying species. It may have 7-8 metres long, down-bended trunks which, however,hardly raise more than 2-3 metres above ground. North of the polar circle only Salix glauca may reach above 0.5 metre. The willow copses are best developed on south facing slopes and on moist ground in the bottom of low-land valleys, but thereis much variation in these areas. An estimate of their total area is subject to a large uncertainty and needs more definite surveys. Assuming that not more than 0.1 % of the ice-free land between 60ºN and 68ºN along the west coast of Greenland iscovered with these vegetation types, their area is less than 7500 ha, but this figure may prove to be erroneous.

FRA categoriesArea (1000 ha)

1990 2000 2010 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Forest (a)

Other wooded land (a)

Other land (c-a-b)

Total land area (c)

The FAOSTAT land area figurefor the year 2015 is used for allreference years

0.22 0.22 0.22 0.22 0.22 0.22 0.22 0.22 0.22

7.50 7.50 7.50 7.50 7.50 7.50 7.50 7.50 7.50

41 037.28 41 037.28 41 037.28 41 037.28 41 037.28 41 037.28 41 037.28 41 037.28 41 037.28

41 045.00 41 045.00 41 045.00 41 045.00 41 045.00 41 045.00 41 045.00 41 045.00 41 045.00

Climatic domain % of forest area 2015 Override value

Boreal

Temperate

Sub-tropical

Tropical

100.00

0.00

0.00

0.00


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1b Forest characteristicsNational Data


National classification and definitionsNo national classification different from the FRA 2020 definitions exists.

Original dataNo official inventory is carried out for Greenland.


Estimation and forecastingNo estimation has been carried out. Forecasting is done assuming no change between 2015 and 2020.

Reclassification into FRA 2020 categoriesNo reclassification was carried out.



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Naturally regenerating forest Plantation forest Other planted forest1000 ha

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020


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Comments

FRA categoriesForest area (1000 ha)

1990 2000 2010 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Naturally regenerating forest(a)

Planted forest (b)

Plantation forest

…of which introduced species

Other planted forest

Total (a+b)

Total forest area

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

0.22 0.22 0.22 0.22 0.22 0.22 0.22 0.22 0.22

0.22 0.22 0.22 0.22 0.22 0.22 0.22 0.22 0.22

0.22 0.22 0.22 0.22 0.22 0.22 0.22 0.22 0.22

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

0.22 0.22 0.22 0.22 0.22 0.22 0.22 0.22 0.22

0.22 0.22 0.22 0.22 0.22 0.22 0.22 0.22 0.22


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1c Primary forest and special forest categoriesNational Data









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Comments


1990 2000 2010 2015 2020

Primary forest

Temporarily unstocked and/orrecently regenerated

Bamboos

Mangroves

Rubber wood

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00


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1d Annual forest expansion, deforestation and net changeNational Data









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Comments

FRA categoriesArea (1000 ha/year)

1990-2000 2000-2010 2010-2015 2015-2020

Forest expansion (a)

…of which afforestation

…of which natural expansion

Deforestation (b)

Forest area net change (a-b)

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00


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1e Annual reforestationNational Data









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Comments

FRA categoriesArea (1000 ha/year)

1990-2000 2000-2010 2010-2015 2015-2020

Reforestation 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00


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1f Other land with tree coverNational Data









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Comments


1990 2000 2010 2015 2020

Palms (a)

Tree orchards (b)

Agroforestry (c)

Trees in urban settings (d)

Other (specify in comments)(e)

Total (a+b+c+d+e)

Other land area

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

41 037.28 41 037.28 41 037.28 41 037.28 41 037.28


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2 Forest growing stock, biomass and carbon2a Growing stockNational Data

Data sources + type of data source eg NFI, etcNo official inventory is carried out for Greenland. The estimates of forest area are based on expert knowledge, but no such information is not available for growing stock. Given the natural growing conditions in Greenland, the growing stock ishowever expected to be very low.


Original dataNo data is available for growing stock, biomass or carbon stocks.


Estimation and forecastingNo estimation or forecasting was carried out.



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Comments

FRA categoriesGrowing stock m³/ha (over bark)

1990 2000 2010 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Naturally regenerating forest

Planted forest

…of which plantation forest

…of which other planted forest

Forest

Other wooded land

FRA categoriesTotal growing stock (million m³ over bark)

1990 2000 2010 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Naturally regenerating forest

Planted forest

…of which plantation forest

…of which other planted forest

Forest

Other wooded land


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2b Growing stock compositionNational Data








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Comments

FRA categories Scientific name Common nameGrowing stock in forest (million m³ over bark)

1990 2000 2010 2015 2020

Native tree species

#1 Ranked in terms of volume









#10 Ranked in terms ofvolume

Remaining native tree species

Total volume of native tree species

Introduced tree species






Remaining introduced tree species

Total volume of introduced tree species

Total growing stock

− − − − −

− − − − −

− − − − −


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2c Biomass stockNational Data








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Comments

FRA categoriesForest biomass (tonnes/ha)

1990 2000 2010 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Above-ground biomass

Below-ground biomass

Dead wood


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2d Carbon stockNational Data








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Comments

FRA categoriesForest carbon (tonnes/ha)

1990 2000 2010 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Carbon in above-groundbiomass

Carbon in below-groundbiomass

Carbon in dead wood

Carbon in litter

Soil carbon

Soil depth (cm) used for soilcarbon estimates


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3 Forest designation and management3a Designated management objectiveNational Data



Original dataNo original data is available


Estimation and forecastingNo estimation or forecasting was carried out




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Primary designated management objective

Total area with designated management objective

CommentsAccording to the IGN homepage: https://ign.ku.dk/om/arboreter/arboret-groenland/skovplantninger/, the majority of forest plantations in Greenland was established for the conservation of gene pools and subsequently for analyzing the potentialfor forest production in Greenland.

FRA 2020 categoriesForest area (1000 ha)

1990 2000 2010 2015 2020

Production (a)

Protection of soil and water (b)

Conservation of biodiversity(c)

Social Services (d)

Multiple use (e)

Other (specify in comments) (f)

None/unknown (g)

Total forest area

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

0.22 0.22 0.22 0.22 0.22

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

0.22 0.22 0.22 0.22 0.22


1990 2000 2010 2015 2020

Production

Protection of soil and water

Conservation of biodiversity

Social Services

Other (specify in comments)

0.22 0.22 0.22 0.22 0.22

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

0.22 0.22 0.22 0.22 0.22



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3b Forest area within protected areas and forest area with long-term management plansNational Data



Original dataNo original dat is available






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Comments


1990 2000 2010 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Forest area within protectedareas

Forest area with long-termforest management plan

…of which in protected areas

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00


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4 Forest ownership and management rights4a Forest ownershipNational Data









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Comments


1990 2000 2010 2015

Private ownership (a)

…of which owned byindividuals

…of which owned by privatebusiness entities andinstitutions

…of which owned by local,tribal and indigenouscommunities

Public ownership (b)

Unknown/other (specify incomments) (c)

Total forest area

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

0.22 0.22 0.22 0.22

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

0.22 0.22 0.22 0.22


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4b Holder of management rights of public forestsNational Data









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Comments


1990 2000 2010 2015

Public Administration (a)

Individuals (b)

Private business entities andinstitutions (c)

Local, tribal and indigenouscommunities (d)

Unknown/other (specify incomments) (e)

Total public ownership

0.22 0.22 0.22 0.22

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

0.22 0.22 0.22 0.22


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5 Forest disturbances5a DisturbancesNational Data

Data sources + type of data source eg NFI, etcNo knowledge is available on disturbances







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Comments


2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Insects (a)

Diseases (b)

Severe weather events (c)

Other (specify in comments)(d)

Total (a+b+c+d)

Total forest area

− − − − − − − − − − − − − − − − − −

0.22 − − − − − − − − − 0.22 − − − − 0.22 0.22 0.22


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5b Area affected by fireNational Data

Data sources + type of data source eg NFI, etcNo knowledge is available on disturbances. However, given the climate of Greenland, no forest is affacted by fire.







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Comments


2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Total land area affected by fire

…of which on forest 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00


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5c Degraded forest

Comments

Does your country monitor area of degraded forest

If "yes"

What is the national definitionof "Degraded forest"?

Describe the monitoringprocess and results

No


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6 Forest policy and legislation6a Policies, Legislation and national platform for stakeholder participation in forest policyNational Data

Data sources + type of data source eg NFI, etcGreenland is autonomeous country in the Kingdom of Denmark. The responsibility for environment protection was handed over to the Greenland Government in 1979. There are no specific policies on SFM for Greenland, given the small forestarea.

National classification and definitionsNot applicable

Original dataNot applicable


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Comments

Indicate the existence ofBoolean (Yes/No)

National Sub-national

Policies supporting SFM

Legislations and regulationssupporting SFM

Platform that promotes orallows for stakeholderparticipation in forest policydevelopment

Traceability system(s) forwood products

No No

No No

No No

No No


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6b Area of permanent forest estateNational Data

Data sources + type of data source eg NFI, etcNo official inventory is carried out for Greenland. The estimates are based on expert knowledge, provided on the IGN homepage: https://ign.ku.dk/om/arboreter/arboret-groenland/skovplantninger/. To our knowledge the forest plantations inGreenland are not protected by law.





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Comments


Applicable? 1990 2000 2010 2015 2020

Area of permanent forestestate Yes 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00


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7 Employment, education and NWFP7a Employment in forestry and loggingNational Data

Data sources + type of data source eg NFI, etcGiven the small area of Greenland forest and the purpose of the forest, the employment related to forestry is negliable




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Comments

FRA 2020 categories

Full-time equivalents (1000 FTE)

1990 2000 2010 2015

Total Female Male Total Female Male Total Female Male Total Female Male

Employment in forestry andlogging

…of which silviculture andother forestry activities

…of which logging

…of which gathering of nonwood forest products

…of which support services toforestry

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00


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7b Graduation of students in forest-related educationNational Data

Data sources + type of data source eg NFI, etcNo education related to forest is available in Greenland




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Comments

FRA 2020 categories

Number of graduated students

1990 2000 2010 2015

Total Female Male Total Female Male Total Female Male Total Female Male

Doctoral degree

Master’s degree

Bachelor’s degree

Technician certificate /diploma

Total

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00


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7c Non wood forest products removals and value 2015National Data

Data sources + type of data source eg NFI, etcNo knowledge is available on NWFP




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Comments

Name of NWFP product Key species Quantity Unit Value (1000 local currency) NWFP category

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

#8

#9

#10

All other plant products

All other animal products

Total −

Name of currency


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8 Sustainable Development Goal 158a Sustainable Development Goal 15SDG Indicator 15.1.1 Forest area as proportion of total land area 2015

SDG Indicator 15.2.1 Progress towards sustainable forest management

IndicatorPercent

2000 2010 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Forest area as proportion oftotal land area 2015

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Name of agency responsible

Sub-Indicator 1Percent

2000-2010 2010-2015 2015-2016 2016-2017 2017-2018 2018-2019 2019-2020

Forest area annual net changerate

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00


Sub-Indicator 2Forest biomass (tonnes/ha)

2000 2010 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Above-ground biomass stockin forest

− − − − − − − −



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Sub-Indicator 3Percent (2015 forest area baseline)

2000 2010 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Proportion of forest arealocated within legallyestablished protected areas

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00


Sub-Indicator 4Percent (2015 forest area baseline)

2000 2010 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Proportion of forest area underlong-term forest managementplan

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00


Sub-Indicator 5Forest area (1000 ha)

2000 2010 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Forest area underindependently verified forestmanagement certificationschemes

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 − −

Documents

Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) 2020 Greenland ... · accompanied by Betula pubescens and single specimens of Sorbus groenlandica . In West Greenland between 61ºN and 66ºN